​Crystal launched its Crystal River Cruises experiences in 2016 with Crystal Mozart and was quickly voted “Best River Cruise Line” by the readers of Travel + Leisure in the magazine’s 2017 World’s Best Awards after only one year in operation. The newest ships comprise the first and only all-suite, all-balcony, all-butler ships on Europe’s rivers, boasting all categories of accommodations above the water line.

CRYSTAL RIVER SIGNATURE HALLMARKS

• Europe's only all-suite river ships, featuring king-sized beds and personal butler service in every suite
• Farm-to-table dining featuring Crystal’s innovative and acclaimed Michelin-inspired cuisine
• Unlimited fine wines, champagnes, premium spirits and beers
• Unmatched Complimentary Crystal Collection of Destination Experiences in each destination, and a Crystal Signature Event on every itinerary
• Twice as many staff per guest as the industry average, and all staff are Crystal employees
• All gratuities, shipboard and shore-side, included

Charming medieval castles. Grand majestic cathedrals. And new shorter itineraries with multiple overnight stays along the legendary Danube and Rhine Rivers. Enrich your clients’ travel plans with a new Crystal Collection of curated, free excursions in each destination, extraordinary cuisine and the largest suites in all of European river cruising. 

The excursion offerings focus on authenticity and are tailored to travelers’ individual interests, featuring smaller group sizes and extra special details. Nearly 200 enriching excursions are included, with more extravagant pursuits also available at an additional cost. The shore-side excursions highlight the multi-faceted character of each destination and comprises five types of experiences including:

·         Personal Connections – Those looking to explore the culture of a destination can enjoy a one-of-a-kind tour hosted by local residents, artisans and experts;
·         Tantalizing Gastronomy – Guests can relish in the signature culinary styles and specialties of the destination with a variety of dining and hands-on cooking opportunities;
·         Cultural Discoveries – Guests will enjoy comprehensive insight from expert guides into historical landmarks, museums, iconic sites and architectural marvels;
·         Exhilarating Adventures – Active cruise travelers can participate in a selection of invigorating pursuits that combine historical and cultural experiences;
·         Design Your Time – For a more tailored vacation, guests can choose this option, which features a concierge service that designs unique private tours as well as a menu of customized choices. 

To ensure that every detail of each experience is in line with Crystal’s exacting standards of service, excursion group sizes are limited to no more than 15 guests; for larger groups, guides are available to lead the tours in German, Spanish, Portuguese and other languages upon request. Crystal Collection shore excursions offer guest transport to iconic sites and regions via spacious motor coaches that include free WiFi.

From Holland's splendid tulip fields to the vineyards of the Wachau Valley, baroque cathedrals to modern cultural hubs and glittering Christmas markets, travelers can explore the Danube, Rhine, Main and Moselle rivers on itineraries of 7- to 16-days.

Appealing?  Want to plan a Crystal River Cruise for 2018 or 2019?  I would love to make this happen for you. Click the button to contact us.​

This Mother's Day give her the gift of travel.  
Flowers are fine. Dinner, enjoyable. A movie, candy, even perfume.
They're all nice. But she deserves more.
What better way than showing her how much you care and appreciate her than by giving her the world?
Here are just a few ideas to get you excited:

​A week in Paris with Delta Vacations

​Food and Wines along the Danube River with AmaWaterways

                                                                The Greek Islands with Globus 

                                                          Kiss the Blarney Stone in Ireland with Brendan

Appealing? I would love to make this happen for you.  Give us a call to plan all the details.
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​Do you think that food should characterize your vacation? Then look no further than AmaWaterways river cruises, where the culinary expertise of their expert chefs is so superb that their European river ships have been inducted into La Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, a celebrated international culinary society!

No matter which itinerary you sail, you’ll delight in magnificent regionally-inspired cuisine made with only the freshest locally sourced ingredients reflective of the destinations you visit, and perfectly paired with local wine—a different red and white poured each night. Whether you choose to dine in the Main Restaurant or at The Chef’s Table, where a multi-course tasting menu awaits, you can rest assured that every bite will more than please your palate.

Come wine and dine with AmaWaterways on an unforgettable river cruise experience this year!

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​You and your friends have organized a successful wine tasting club.  You’ve done everything right for each monthly meeting:

• Decided on a formal or informal format
• Created a theme such as “Wines of Chile,”  “The Best of the California Cabernets,” or “Favorite Holiday Wines”
• Secured appropriate wine tasting supplies and accessories such as glasses, rinse pitchers, dump buckets, drinking water, bland bread or crackers, and a tasting evaluation form for each member
• Allocated time for enrichment from research shared by members or an outside presenter such as a wine merchant or local winery vintner
• Focused on food and wine pairing with the meeting theme
• Mailed a newsletter or sent an enewsletter with the next meeting’s location, agenda, theme, and other details as well as a review of the last meeting’s tastings, upcoming community wine-related events, etc. 

 You’ve done well. Membership has grown and your group of like-minded individuals are now the best of friends.  Where can you go from here? Plan a tour for your group to a wine region! Start with a short trip, perhaps a three or four day cruise in Napa Valley.   After one or two successful wine holidays, plan more extensive travel to wine regions of France, Germany, South Africa or even Australia and New Zealand.

A wine-themed European river cruise is an escape for the senses! Several river cruise lines shine their culinary spotlight on food and wine innovation in France, Portugal and along the Rhine and Danube. These sailings offer travelers many opportunities to visit, sample and buy regional wines. Imagine the thrill in bringing a bottle of wine to friends back home, serving it with just the right dishes and having a story to tell about where the wine was purchased!

Bonus features of wine-themed river cruises typically include:

• Exclusive excursions to historic wineries and vineyards
• Inspiring lectures and discussions with acclaimed wine experts
• Superb wine and food pairings
• Private wine cellar tours
• Select premium wine tastings from celebrated European wineries

Appealing?  Want to plan a river cruise for 2018 or 2019?  I would love to make this happen for you. Contact us to discuss the details. Ask about including a brief presentation to your wine or gourmet club, too!​